Battle of Quebec

The Battle of Quebec (31 December 1775) was a major battle of the American Revolutionary War. The invading American forces, commanded by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, attempted to attack the heavily-fortified city of Quebec during a snowstorm, but they were repelled with heavy losses. The defeat at Quebec ended the Americans' offensive into Canada.

British Canada was of utmost strategic importance during the war; it could serve as a staging point for British invasions of America, many northern Americans sought its annexation as the fourteenth colony, and Quebec housed the largest quantity of supplies in the Americas. George Washington knew of its strategic value, so he ordered a two-pronged invasion of Canada. Montgomery would advance up the Lake Champlain corridor from Fort Ticonderoga, while Arnold would advance along the Kennebec River.

Montgomery and his army captured Montreal on 13 November 1775, and in early December they brought reinforcements and supplies to Arnold's weary soldiers, who had completed an arduous trek through horrific winter conditions. Governor Guy Carleton escaped from Montreal to Quebec, and last-minute reinforcements were rushed in to bolster the city's limited defenses before the arrival of the Americans. Concerned about the expiry of enlistments on New Year's Day, Montgomery launched an attack during a blinding snowstorm on 31 December. The Americans charged into a hornet's nest, and Montgomery was killed by grapeshot early in the battle; his forces retreated, abandoning Arnold's forces, who had advanced into the lower city. Arnold was shot in the leg by a musketball and forced to limp to a hospital, while Daniel Morgan, who had taken over Arnold's force, was forced to surrender.

The battle was a disaster for the Americans, whose offensive in Canada came to a close. The Americans blockaded Quebec until the spring of 1776, and Arnold and his army were forced to retreat back into the Thirteen Colonies when British reinforcements arrived. The failure of the invasion of Canada led to Canada remaining a British colony until 1867.